What are your frugal and sustainable tips and tricks?

[TooCheep]

As happy as I was to take that food home with me, I was also a little bit sad thinking that someone with low income that qualifies for the food shelf goods would not use it. I suspect it's because the food items that I picked up today all had to be cooked. I wonder how much food shelf items like that are just dumped into the trash because people don't know how to cook? It's a shame. In any case, I am thankful that they dropped it off at the Thrift Store for someone else to take.

The decline of shop and home econ classes in much of America has directly led to a huge decline of people's ability to do for themselves and their families. Instead, we now rely on far more expensive specialists for even relatively simple tasks.

I know that everyone is feeling the pinch of rising food prices, but eating out less often, understanding how to shop wisely and then cook your own food is one clear answer. It also has the additional benefit of often being healthier.

Action item: Please do the best you can to teach these skills to your children.

 

[ChicNmom]

Sometimes, I think folks that are eligible to receive food shelf packages should be required to attend some kind of cooking classes to earn their eligibility to get that free food. I just believe that if they knew how to cook at home, that the canned and dry food they get in their packages would have a lot more value to them and that would be better for their families.

I have often thought there should be a mandatory class for people receiving food cards to use at the store. At the first of the month
the store is packed with people using the cards. Everything they buy is processed, frozen prepackaged food, juice, pastries chips. They could get so much more food if they would put the effort into cooking. There are now generations of people who only know how to use microwaves and toaster ovens. I've noticed this is generally not true of people from other countries.

I was 42 when I went back to school. One of the young teachers mentioned she doesn't use a microwave and several in the class were baffled and asked how she cooked food with out one.
She said "I use a pan on the stove" and those kids looked so confused. It was sad.

 

[Sally PB]

A friend of mine is sure we are headed for an economic meltdown. She said they plan to eat less, but figure they're going to "have to eat crap food this winter because there won't be any vegetables in the stores, or they'll be too expensive to afford."

This is someone who knows how to cook, can, and garden, had a large garden, but they've cut way back on it because the animals get most of it (and a fence is "not what I want to look at").

I'm running out of suggestions for her. And patience.

 

[TooCheep]

A friend of mine is sure we are headed for an economic meltdown. She said they plan to eat less, but figure they're going to "have to eat crap food this winter because there won't be any vegetables in the stores, or they'll be too expensive to afford."

This is someone who knows how to cook, can, and garden, had a large garden, but they've cut way back on it because the animals get most of it (and a fence is "not what I want to look at").

I'm running out of suggestions for her. And patience.

Wow. I didn't go that far in my post, but it sounds like she has *all* the tools/knowledge to cope with at least the food issues during such a meltdown. I wonder if actual hardship would change her view of the importance of aesthetics vs. function.

 

[Sally PB]

I wonder if actual hardship would change her view of the importance of aesthetics vs. function.

I doubt it. This is a person who enjoys her misery. That's the only thing I've been able to figure.

I've tried to make suggestions, and I get answers like, "But that'll mean we have to..." or "I don't want to have to work around XYZ," or "Hubby will never go along with/be able to do that."

 

[Grannys Backyard Chicks]

I have a grabber that I keep near the chicken pen just to grab ratsnakes out of the nest area. I absolutely hate to touch them. Ihold a bucket in one hand and the grabber in the other, grab the top half of the snake and stuff it in the bucket. I use the grabber to keep it in the bucket while I put the lid on. Then me and Mr.sneaky egg-thieving no-legs go on a relocation ride.
Love the grabber!

I recently had a rat snake in the nest, this is a great idea. Thanks!!!

 

[igorsMistress]

I usually take a weekly trip into town on Tuesdays. That is the only day that our local church Thrift Shop is open. You never know what you might find of value. Today I picked up a multi-function shower head with hose for only 50 cents. Assuming it actually works, that shower head costs about $20.00 new. That was a fantastic deal.

An unexpected pickup today was that someone had dropped off food from the food shelf that they did not want. I am talking about canned carrots, corn, collard greens, applesauce, and pinto beans. There was another 6 packs of quick oats, pancake mix and white rice. I estimate maybe close to $30.00 in groceries that someone did not want.

As the Thrift Store was getting within an hour of closing, and all that free food would be tossed into the large garbage bin, I picked up all that food and took it home. According to some state or local ordinances, the Thrift Store cannot sell food products. They can only give it away or toss it into the garbage bins. That is what one guy working at the Thrift Store told me. So, they hope someone will take that food home.

As happy as I was to take that food home with me, I was also a little bit sad thinking that someone with low income that qualifies for the food shelf goods would not use it. I suspect it's because the food items that I picked up today all had to be cooked. I wonder how much food shelf items like that are just dumped into the trash because people don't know how to cook? It's a shame. In any case, I am thankful that they dropped it off at the Thrift Store for someone else to take.

Dear Wife is a great cook, and she does the majority of making meals for us at home. But the past year, I attended some Senior Citizen cooking classes that we had once a month. I had fun learning how to cook stuff. Often times, I was the only male in the class. But that did not bother me. I learned a lot.

One thing our cooking instructors always talked about was how to make the best use of your money and buying healthy food that was affordable. Dear Wife and I seldom eat out, because we just prefer to cook our own food, which I like better than restaurant food, but also because you can save so much money that can be used elsewhere.

Sometimes, I think folks that are eligible to receive food shelf packages should be required to attend some kind of cooking classes to earn their eligibility to get that free food. I just believe that if they knew how to cook at home, that the canned and dry food they get in their packages would have a lot more value to them and that would be better for their families.

Not that I want to force my values on others, it's just that I hate to see good food being tossed out in the trash.

Well, I served in the Navy in my younger days, and I visited many third world countries on my ship. The sight of the local natives diving into the dumpsters on our pier side trash bins just to get a half-eaten doughnut or maybe some scrambled eggs is burned into my memory forever. I know what poverty and hunger looks like, and it was not a pretty sight.

I suspect the low income and homeless folks wouldn’t think to check a thrift store for free food. Canned items don’t need to be cooked, they already are. All you need is a can opener and a spoon.

Homeless folks may or may not have these items. Police throw away all their stuff, or other homeless folks steal it. So it’s not necessarily the ability, it’s often a lack of resources.

 

[igorsMistress]

Wow. I didn't go that far in my post, but it sounds like she has *all* the tools/knowledge to cope with at least the food issues during such a meltdown. I wonder if actual hardship would change her view of the importance of aesthetics vs. function.

View attachment 3912303

Including how to butcher a chicken and cook it for dinner!

 

[fuzzi]

I have often thought there should be a mandatory class for people receiving food cards to use at the store. At the first of the month
the store is packed with people using the cards. Everything they buy is processed, frozen prepackaged food, juice, pastries chips. They could get so much more food if they would put the effort into cooking. There are now generations of people who only know how to use microwaves and toaster ovens. I've noticed this is generally not true of people from other countries.

I was 42 when I went back to school. One of the young teachers mentioned she doesn't use a microwave and several in the class were baffled and asked how she cooked food with out one.
She said "I use a pan on the stove" and those kids looked so confused. It was sad.

When I was a teenager I worked after school as a cashier in a grocery store. People who used food stamps were not allowed to buy prepackaged food, nor candy, soda, or snack foods. While it might seem mean it also helped people to buy real food and not junk. At some point the restrictions were lifted, it seems.

 

[TooCheep]

Including how to butcher a chicken and cook it for dinner!

Yup. I understand that some people could never do it and/or think of their chickens more as pets than livestock. I've harvested a few chickens now, and though I still dislike it, I know I can handle cockerels (I had one by mistake) and older birds that aren't very productive any more.